Au Revoir L'Été

Under the incessant chirping of crickets and the languid heat of the Japanese summer, we meet Sakuko, 18 years old and recently graduated from high school. In order to study for her university entrance exam, she accompanies her aunt Mikie to her mother’s house in a small coastal town. However, there will be little time for studying, the summer is too sweltering and her heart too young for that. Through her aunt, she meets the equally youthful Takashi. He has fled from the Fukushima region to the town and now earns a living in the cheap love hotel of Ukichi, a childhood sweetheart of aunt Mikie.

Au Revoir L’Eté tells the light-hearted story of this holiday love with a wonderfully meandering storyline, as casual as a snoring cat in the evening sun. This film is a wonderful coming-of-age film, in which the summer of youthful innocence is said goodbye to and the facades of the adults are punctured.

It should come as no surprise that director Fukada wants to continue the tradition of his great example Eric Rohmer with this gem: Au Revoir L’Eté is not only a French title, but also clearly inspired by Rohmer’s Pauline A La Plage. In other words, the Nouvelle Vague continues to gushes, although it now ends in the Pacific surf.

An ideal performance for a Thursday night out, on the eve of the weekend, with thoughts of the past and the holiday that is yet to come.

AWARDS:

• Mongolfiere d’or & young jury award at Nantes 3 Continents 2013.
• Best director award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

All images: © 2013 “Au Revoir L’Été”